Controversies seem to be central in societies considering the increased freedom of speech that is associated with modern democracies. At times, what is considered controversial is not as such, considering it is usually a matter of personal opinion as opposed to a majority’s opinions. The government is concerned about the kind of information that citizens access and would not want the controversial opinion to become a popular opinion as it would destabilize a society. Literary works, which are supposed to mirror the social, political, and economic issues, are not immune to controversy given that it reflects the authors’ opinions. At times, some of the books could promote ethnic hatred, violence, religious intolerance, public unrest, or political coups. The government must protect its citizens from a negative influence by imposing censorship on particular literary contents. However, for this to happen, the government is guided by literature selection and censorship policies and guidelines, which differ, from one school district to another.
History of censorship in literature taught in schools
The literature that is taught in school is carefully selected to ensure that it teaches moral lessons, has happy endings and provides noble role models for students. Literary works that do not meet the required threshold are censored as a way of protecting its young and impressionable readers. Censorship of school literature has a long history dating back to 1852 when the government banned Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe as it promoted pro-abolitionist views on slavery (Hudson and Ghani, 2017). In 1872, Anthony Comstock founded the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice that helped in the enactment of laws banning indecent, lewd, obscene and filthy materials. Over the years, schools have bowed to pressure from patents to ban books that are deemed violent, profane and sexually explicit.
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Summary of book selection and censorship policies
Book selection and censorship policies guide education boards on the criteria to be used when selecting or censoring literature books. The authority to select books is vested on the librarian who then appoints qualified staff members to help in the selection. Any book that is selected will be deemed to be appropriate as it will capture readers' interest and offer information and enlightenment to the community. On the issue of censorship, the board asserts that censorship is an individual’s decision to make, as one is free to reject books that he or she does not approve (Dawkins, 2017). However, such a personal opinion will not translate to the removal of books from the library unless there is a court order.
Examples of banned and challenged books, and why they were banned or challenged
There are many books that have been challenged for appearing to be controversial and inappropriate to a range of readers. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck were challenged for containing LGBT themes and characters (American Library Association, 2013). A Visit to Cuba has been banned because it is not an accurate representation of the country’s politics especially the harsh realities. The Bluest Eye, Ulysses, The Adventures of Captain Underpants , and 50 Shades of Grey have been challenged owing to explicit sexual connotations and images. Other books that have been challenged include The Progeny of Pico as it is vulgar and Black Boy which is considered anti-American.
Explanation of students’ rights in selecting their own reading material
Students are the consumers of school literature and for this reason; they have a right to select their own reading materials. In as much as the right to choose reading materials is reflective of a democratic society, the current system is yet to allow this freedom. Students only read what the education board, which is considered knowledgeable enough to understand students.’ needs, has approved (National Coalition against Censorship Staff, 2013). However, critics of this system believe that students should be allowed to choose their own literature as it improves their writing skills
How parents can communicate their concerns about a literature selection to the teacher
Parents are considered a part of the education system as they provide students as well as support the system both economically and emotionally, for this reason, they have a major stake when it comes to literature selection, as they would want the best for their children. In the past, parents have challenged various books, which they have thought to be profane and inappropriate for their children. Parents are supposed to raise concerns about literature directly with their children teachers who then forward the concerns to higher authorities (National Coalition against Censorship Staff, 2013). Teachers ought to be available and make time to discuss with parents about the content in literature books to make informed decisions.
References
American Library Association. (2013, March 26). Banned and Challenged Classics. Retrieved on December 20, 2019, from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics
Dawkins, A. M.(2017). Worth Fighting For Factors Influencing Selection Decisions in School Libraries (Dissertation). University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
Hudson, D. L., & Ghani, M. (2017, September 18). Book Censorship . Freedom Forum Institute . Retrieved on December 20, 2019 from https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/topics/freedom-of-speech-2/k-12-public-school-student-expression/book-censorship/
National Coalition against Censorship Staff (2013). The First Amendment in Schools: A Resource Guide. National Coalition Against Censorship, Retrieved on December 20, 2019 from https://ncac.org/resource/first-amendment-in-schools
